Good morning everyone! It's Thursday, and that means I'm inviting another Aussie author into my virtual café. Firstly, I can't believe how many people are not coffee drinkers! Maybe I should invite authors around for a glass of wine instead.
Today's coffee chat is with Karen J Carlisle. She is an Adelaide writer, artist, gardener, chocoholic, and tea lover. Karen writers speculative fiction including steampunk, Victorian mystery, and fantasy.
DL: Firstly, since this a virtual coffee chat, how do you have your
coffee? Are you a morning or afternoon person?
KAREN: Coffee
doesn’t agree with me. Do you mind if I make mine a hot cup of tea instead? Black.
No sugar, please. When I was a kid, my great granddad used to make us tea and
tell us stories of ‘home’, in a thick Scot accent. I remember him each time I
have a cup, so it’s just not a steampunk thing.
I’m not a
morning person. I struggle to function before 9 am. A good cup of tea helps.
I’m more of a night owl and have been known to still be writing at 1 am (which
possibly explains my morning issues).
DL: I love steampunk, and this looks like a great series. Your first
series is based on Jack The Ripper. Is it difficult to come up with new
adventures for your characters?
KAREN: Yes
and no. (Don’t you love ambiguous answers.)
I need a
spark to set me off – a title, a thought, an atmosphere, a ‘what if’ – then I’m
off. Once I immerse myself in the research, I get more ideas and I can start
twisting history into my alternate version.
There are
those serendipitous moments when the idea just pops up. Sometimes it’s a title,
sometimes a scene or a set of clues. Sometimes it is just a feeling – an
atmosphere I want to create.
With Doctor Jack, I was watching a Jack the
Ripper documentary and ‘wondered what if my Men in Grey had a hand in the whole
affair?’ The story snowballed from there. With Eye of the Beholder, it was an Ancient Egypt documentary. The
Victorians loved Egypt. Point of View
is a short story told from the maid’s point of view. It was inspired by a
documentary on the ‘below stairs’ of Victorian life. I used it as an exercise -
writing in only one point of view for the entire story.
Unfortunately,
ideas sometimes need to be pried out of my brain so I delve into my Ideas Box, full
of snippets scribbled on paper. (You know those ideas you get at 3am in the morning,
or in the shower?)
Currently,
I’m compiling notes for the next book. I had no idea what hook I could use for
the featured novella. I wrote a list of ‘very Victorian’ things to find
something to inspire me. Now I’m researching 19thcentury illusionists,
which has sparked off some unpleasant situations for the characters.
DL: Do you plot your series, and when you determine the
"stakes" for your character, i.e. what they risk to reach their goal,
do you reflect on personal experience or look at others' experiences?
KAREN: I
must admit I’m more of a pantser than a plotter, which is probably why I take
so long to finish one book. I do jot down copious notes on ideas to use for a
story - a small list of main crisis points (explosions, murders), specific clues
to be included, and I usually have a vague idea of how I want the story to end.
 |
| Sticky note plot board (c) Karen J Carlisle |
Some of
their sticky situations have stemmed from personal experiences. I started
writing again to face some daemons in my life. The writing was cathartic. Now it’s
a compulsion. I have to write. I see
the world in a different light (possibly coloured from a steady diet of ‘whodunits’,
science fiction and fantasy over the years).
Ideas also
come from documentaries, news items or research.
DL: I noticed that your book is featured in the Halloween Comic Con. I
love the idea of a Halloween Comic Con. How did that come about?
KAREN: A
group of local indie authors and comic book creators got together for a chat,
after one of the local pop conventions, to brainstorm ways we could connect
locally with our readers, ‘get our names known’ and maybe sell more books. Many
of us can’t afford to travel interstate at this time. Darren Kaziol, of Decay Comics, convinced the organisers
of the Flinders Street Markets to let us take over their space for a weekend.
This is our second year.
DL: And last question, what is your favourite biscuit and/or cake at the
moment?
KAREN: I
have a savoury tooth. I’m quite partial to Lemon Crisp biscuits. They’re both
tangy and salty. And I do love a rich chocolate cake with
thick chocolate icing.
The Adventures of Viola Stewart
A Victorian Steampunk Mystery Series
Murder, mummies, mystery and a secret society plotting to take over The Empire.
The Adventures of Viola Stewart – introduces Viola Stewart, a widowed optician with a penchant fordetectiving, who stumbles upon a secret Society of Men in Grey. This Victorian Mystery series is set in a steampunk fantasy world and has a gaslamp flavour.
Author appearances
17th December, 2016: Adelaide Indie Author Pop-up Store. Karen will be signing her books at Greenlight Comics, 18 Stephens Place, Adelaide.
Links to Buy
Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/author/Karen-J-Carlisle
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/kjcarl
She is also on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/KarenJCarlisle
Places to find Karen’s Writing:
- Goodreads
- Amazon
- Smashwords
- Pinterest– where you can find visual hints and inspirations, research for her stories, costuming and photography.
Social Media:
- Tumblr (Karen J Carlisle/Off the Artboard)
- twitter (Karen J Carlisle) @kjcarlisle
- Facebook: Karen J Carlisle (was Karen Carlisle Creations/Off the Artboard/Katdb)
- Google +
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.
D L
I don't drink wine either, though my rellies do own a vineyard in the Adelaide Hills. :)
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, as much as I like wine, it doesn't always agree with me.
ReplyDeleteInteresting interview Karen, enjoyed reading about your books.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by Tia.
DeleteI'm not a big wine drinker either, but I might have a glass. :)
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me of the meme with a person drinking wine from a fishbowl - it's just one glass.
DeleteThanks for stopping by Chris. Nice to see your new book is released.